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As part of the ongoing campaign to elevate awareness about the growing threat of identity theft, uni-ball® is working help stop identity thieves in their tracks. uni-ball asks consumers to be on high alert for these identity theft scams as identified by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC):

Professional thieves and targeted attacks The ITRC is anticipating an increase in more sophisticated ways to "mine" information, sometimes by organized crime groups. Cybercrime, which includes transporting or selling large amounts of personal information from one group both nationally and internationally, will continue and expand. Part of this trend includes "skimming" (duplicate scanning of credit cards or debit cards), and fake fronts on payment scanners and ATM machines.

Check Fraud
As it becomes more difficult to get new lines of credit, identity thieves may be drawn more to commit check fraud. These crimes may take the form of stolen checks, using checks thrown into the trash by unknowing consumers, or a type of identity theft known as "check washing." Check washing occurs when checks or other tax-related documents are stolen from the mail or by other means and the ink is erased using common household chemicals, allowing thieves to endorse checks to themselves. This is where something as simple and inexpensive as a select uni-ball pen can help. Select uni-ball pens contain specially formulated gel ink (trademarked Uni-Super Ink) that is absorbed into the paper's fibers and can never be washed out.

Late Payment Scam
As people fall behind on their utilities or taxes, lists are created and available either internally or as public record. These lists can fall into the wrong hands and thieves call unassuming people to collect.

Text Messaging Scams: Phexting
Criminal hackers have access to everything these days, including the technology that generates cell phone numbers, as well as access to mass text messaging services. Once the data is secured, they are able to send text messages that install keyloggers (a method of capturing and recording user keystrokes) or direct you to web sites that steal personal data.

Internet Scams: Phishing
Phony e-mails that try to trick customers into giving out personal information are the hottest, and most disturbing, new scam on the Internet. "Phishing" frauds attempt to make Internet users believe that they are receiving email from a specific, trusted source, or that they are securely connected to a trusted Web site, when that is not the case. This scam is generally used as a means to convince individuals to provide personal or financial information that enables the perpetrators to commit credit card/bank fraud or other forms of identity theft.